So my party needs some healing. They are Inquisitor/fighter/fighter/alchemist. They are all dying. They all don't want to play a healer.
So that's cool... I guess. still, in the interest of having people still come to my sessions I think it might be a good idea if the party to have someone whose healing goes beyond a wand of Cure Light Wounds.
My tentative plan is to have an NPC cleric go with them. I know there are many other options, (oracle, witch, etc) but for story reasons it's a cleric that is voted "most likely NPC to accompany the party".
Not asking for you guys to build this NPC for me, but some advice on what feats/abilities/equipment to look into would be nice. Only guidelines are:
1. Don't take the spotlight away from PCs.
2. Level 5.
3. be effective at healing.
4. PF material only, no 3rd party.
Honestly, I would go with a life oracle, even if he needs to be a 'priest' of god x for story reasons, Oracles can be priests too. And an oracle is easier to run, easier to put together, and cant really take the spotlite from the party unless you put alot of effort into the build.
A cleric* of Irori, who is collecting tales of heroes so he can write them up as inspiring examples to others seeking enlightenment, or alternately as Horrible Examples of How Not To Do It. He will try to keep the PCs alive long enough for them to make their mark/learn their lesson, but won't interfere with them or their goals -- they have to achieve enlightenment by themselves, including learning lessons. Whenever they do something really bright or horribly stupid, he pulls out his Big Book and writes something down.
High Wis and Cha, feats are Extra Channel, Selective Channelling, Iron Will, and Great Fortitude (the last two to help him stay alive). You could swap them out for others.
He casts sanctuary at the start of most fights, instead or relying on armor, and he uses a quarterstaff (or maybe just ducks behind a tower shield he may lack proficiency in.). He's also dressed in such a way that most reasonably intelligent monsters will know he won't fight back unless attacked, so they skip him and focus their attention on the PCs.
He has wands of delay poison and lesser restoration, and a pair of wands of CLW, along with a maxed-out Heal skill.
And his Big Book, which unknown to the players is magically linked to another book at his monastery that duplicates everything he writes in it. Might be an interesting plot twist if one of the PC's enemies gets hold of that book, with all their strengths and weaknesses listed in it.
*A life oracle has more hit-point healing power, but a cleric has more spell flexibility for fixing odd status conditions that pop up, or doing other support stuff if the PCs are smart enough to request it.
Inquisitor or Oracle - there are metagame issues when you has GMNPC with vancian slots.
Healer if you want a super healer, however the party shouldn't really need much healing in-combat if they are playing their cards right.
An Adept can be great, if the CR is 5, (A PC with PC gold is CR their level) then the adept can be 2 levels higher.
The adept could "charge" PCs for healing and restorations at the cost of a single charge per charge, and use this money to buy replacement wands.
Of course the adept would use its normal healing first before turning to wands.
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It sounds like this party mostly needs out of combat healing. Also note that the group lacks Tier I classes (e.g. Summoner, Wizard, Druid, Cleric), so be gentle with them. Adding a healer seems like a good idea. You want to add a healer with minimal in-combat healing (so it doesn't become a crutch) and plenty of out of combat healing (to minimize downtime).
I really like the suggestion of the Irori cleric keeping a chronicle. That has a lot of story potential, and keeps that GMNPC from taking center stage.
An oracle is a good default choice for GMNPC healer, since the GM controls spell selection and will thus select known spells to limit the GMNPC's ability to draw the limelight.
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I'm all for Oracle of Life that is dual cursed, make him deaf and blind...
The party will have to make some effort to keep him around but he'll literally be there for heals and add some utility from misfortune
Story wise he wants to adventure and experience life at its fullest, the wilds are calling him despite his deformities!
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How does he cast those spells?He's got very supple wrists.There's got to be a twist.He's a pinball oracle!If he doesn't speak much, does he play a mean pinball?I'm all for Oracle of Life that is dual cursed, make him deaf and blind...
He ain't got no distractions, can't hear that combat or see those lightning bolts.
He casts by sense of smell.